Device for smoothing window tinting and graphics application tools

ABSTRACT

A device for smoothing a working edge of a squeegee tool that is used for application of film substrates to glass surfaces; the device having a main body including a base and opposing first and second panels extending away from the base and diverging away from one another to define an open mouth, and a fabric sheet secured to the main body at opposite end portions, and the fabric sheet including a central portion received within the open mouth and formed in a V-shape transverse configuration, wherein the working edge of the tool is moved longitudinally between the opposing panels and in frictional engagement with a top surface of the fabric sheet at a bottom of the V-shape to effectively remove bumps, nicks and scratches on the working edge of the tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a device for smoothing the edges ofsqueegees and similar window tinting and graphics application tools, andmore particularly, to a manually operated device that includes a fabricsheet that is positioned for movement of the working edge of thesqueegee or other tool against the fabric in order to remove surfaceirregularities and smooth the working edge of the tool.

Discussion of the Related Art

Applying tint film or other graphics application films to windows orother glass surfaces requires the use of a squeegee and/or other filmapplication tools. These window tinting and graphics application toolstypically have a working edge that is pressed against and moved alongthe film for pushing liquid and air bubbles between the film and theglass towards an edge of the film, thereby removing the bubbles andliquid so that the film becomes completely and uniformly adhered to theglass surface. Over the course of time, the working edge of the tool canget scratched, nicked or otherwise damaged. When this happens, theworking edge can cut or damage the film when applying the tinting filmor other graphics films to window or other glass surfaces.

Accordingly, it is essential that the working edge of squeegees andother window tinting and graphics application tools be maintained smoothwithout scratches, bumps, nicks or other surface irregularities thatmight otherwise damage the tinting film or graphics film being appliedto the window or other glass surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a device for smoothing the edges ofsqueegees and other window tinting and graphics application tools. Thedevice includes a main body having a base and opposing panels eachhaving a lower portion, an upper portion, and a top distal edgeextending longitudinally between opposite first and second ends of themain body. The panels extend upwardly from the base at the lowerportions and diverge away from one another beginning at the upperportions, eventually terminating at the top distal edges to define anopen mouth between the opposing panels. A fabric sheet is secured to themain body and includes a central portion that extends over the topdistal edges of the opposing panels within the open mouth. The centralportion of the fabric sheet is tucked down between the opposing panelsto assume a V-shape between the upper portions of the opposing panels.By sliding a working edge of the window tinting and graphics applicationtool longitudinally between the opposing panels and in frictionalengagement with the fabric sheet at the bottom of the V-shape, bumps,nicks, scratches and other irregularities are removed from surfacesalong the working edge, to thereby smooth the working edge of the tool.

In a preferred embodiment, the fabric sheet includes an arrangement ofclosely spaced parallel ridges on at least a top surface of the fabricsheet that faces inwardly within the V-shape. The parallel ridges extendperpendicular to the longitudinal directional path of movement of theworking edge of the tool between the opposing panels, which allows theparallel ridges to rub against the surfaces of the working edge of thetool to enhance smoothing of the working edge.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Considering the forgoing, it is a primary object of the presentinvention to provide a device for smoothing the edges of squeegees andother window tinting and graphics application tools in order to removebumps, nicks, scratches and other irregularities on the working edge ofthe tools.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device forsmoothing the edges of squeegees and other window tinting and graphicsapplication tools, and wherein the device is entirely manually operatedwithout the need for moving parts or electric power.

It is still an object of the present invention to provide a simple andeffective device for smoothing the edges of squeegees and other windowtinting and graphics application tools, and wherein the device is easyto use.

It is still an object of the present invention to provide a device forsmoothing the edges of squeegees and other window tinting and graphicsapplication tools, and wherein the device is inexpensive and highlyeffective to extend the useful life of squeegees and other windowtinting and graphics application tools.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are morereadily apparent with reference to the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front, top perspective view of the device of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom, side perspective view showing two symmetrical halvesof the device separated for assembly of the device including a fabricsheet that is secured to the main body of the device, between thesymmetrical halves;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the device of the presentinvention and a squeegee or other window tinting and graphicsapplication tool above an open mouth of the device and ready for receiptwithin the open mouth, as indicated by the arrow, for smoothing aworking edge of the tool;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view showing the squeegee or other windowtinting and graphics application tool within the open mouth of thedevice of the present invention and in frictional engagement with afabric sheet for smoothing the working edge of the squeegee or othertool; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a sequence of operation of use of the device of thepresent invention wherein the working edge of the squeegee or other toolis passed longitudinally between opposing panels of the device and infrictional engagement with the fabric sheet to effectively smooth theworking edge of the squeegee or other tool.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several viewsof the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The device for smoothing window tinting and graphics application toolsis shown and is generally indicated as 10 throughout the several viewsof the drawings. Referring initially to FIG. 1, the device 10 includes amain body 12 having a base 14 and opposing panels 16 and 18, each havinga lower portion 20, an upper portion 22 and a top distal edge 24extending longitudinally between opposite ends of the main body 12. Theopposing panels 16, 18 extend upwardly from the base 14 at the lowerportions and diverge away from one another beginning at the upperportions 22, eventually terminating at the top distal edges 24 to definean open mouth 30 between the opposing panels 16, 18. A fabric sheet 40is secured to the main body 12 and includes a central portion 42 thatextends over the top distal edges of the opposing panels 16, 18 withinthe open mouth 30. The central portion 42 of the fabric sheet 40 istucked down between the opposing panels to assume a V-shape between theupper portions of the opposing panels 16, 18. By sliding a working edge52 of the window tinting and graphics application tool 50 longitudinallybetween the opposing panels 16, 18 and in frictional engagement with thefabric sheet 40 at the bottom of the V-shape, bumps, nicks, scratchesand other irregularities are removed from the surfaces along the workingedge 52, to thereby smooth the working edge of the too.

Referring to FIG. 2, the main body 12 of the device 10 is constructed astwo symmetrical halves 60, 62. Each half 60, 62 includes a portion ofthe base 14, and one of the opposing panels 16, 18. As seen in FIG. 2,the fabric sheet 40 is fitted through elongate slots 48 on the upperportions of each of the opposing panels so that opposite end portions44, 46 of the fabric sheet are extended down towards the opposingportions of the base between the two symmetrical halves 60, 62. Theopposite end portions 44, 46 of the fabric sheet 40 are provided with aplurality of holes 47 for passage of pegs 70 therethrough on theopposing halves of the main body. In particular, the pegs 70 arepositioned on the lower portions 20 of the opposing panels 16, 18 ofeach of the halves 60, 62, and are specifically structured andpositioned for passage through respectively aligned holes 47 in theopposite ends 44, 46 of the fabric sheet 40 and into a receiving hole 72on the opposing lower portion 20 of the opposite panel 16 or 18. Thereceiving hole 72 and pegs 70 are each surrounded by a hub 74 so thatwhen the pegs are positioned within the receiving holes on the oppositepanels, the hubs 74 are positioned in abutting relation, as seen inFIGS. 3 and 4. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hubs 74 act as spacersbetween the lower portions 20 of the opposing panels 16, 18, maintainingthe opposing panels in the proper spaced relation, while adding supportto the lower portions 20 and the main body 12, just above the base 14.The opposing portions of the base 14 of each of the symmetrical halves60, 62 are also provided with correspondingly aligned pegs 80 and holes82 which fit together to hold the base portions of each of thesymmetrical halves together so that the formed base 14 of the main body12 is held solid while preventing unwanted movement between the opposinghalves 60, 62. The opposing base portions of the symmetrical halves 60,62 may be fastened together with threaded fasteners, such as a screw, inaddition to the pegs 80 and holes 82. Moreover, the pegs 80 and holes 82may be structured to provide a snap-fit tight attachment of the twoopposing base portions of the symmetrical halves 60, 62, to secure thebase 14 closed, as seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

In use, the working edge 52 of the window tinting and graphicsapplication tool 50 is received through the open mouth 30, and intoengagement with the bottom 43 of the V-shape of the fabric sheet 40, asshown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Next, by moving the working edge 52 of the tool50 longitudinally between the opposing panels 16, 18 and in frictionalengagement with the fabric sheet 40, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, theworking edge 52 of the tool 50 is smoothed, as bumps, nicks, scratchesand other irregularities are removed from the working edge by the fabricsheet.

While the present invention has been shown and described in accordancewith a preferred and practical embodiment, it is recognized thatdepartures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within thespirit and scope of the present invention which is not to be limitedexcept as defined in the following claims as interpreted under theDoctrine of Equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for smoothing a working edge of asqueegee tool that is used for application of film substrates to glasssurfaces, the device comprising: a main body including a base andopposing first and second panels extending away from the base and thefirst and second panels diverging away from one another and eachterminating at a top distal edge to define an open mouth between the topdistal edges of the opposing first and second panels; and a fabric sheethaving a first end portion secured to the main body and an oppositesecond end portion secured to the main body, and the fabric sheetfurther including a central portion tucked between the opposing firstand second panels so that a transverse orientation of the centralportion is in a V-shape, and the central portion including a top surfacefor frictional engagement with the working edge of the squeegee toolupon longitudinal movement of the working edge between the opposingfirst and second panels and against a top surface of the fabric sheet ata bottom of the V-shape.
 2. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein themain body further comprises: two symmetrical halves that are heldtogether by at least one fastener.
 3. The device as recited in claim 2wherein the two symmetrical halves include a first half and a secondhalf, the first half including a first portion of the base and the firstpanel, and the second half including a second portion of the base andthe second panel.
 4. The device as recited in claim 3 wherein the firstportion of the base and the second portion of the base are joinedtogether and held together by the at least one fastener to form the baseof the main body.
 5. The device as recited in claim 4 wherein the firstand second halves of the main body each include an inboard facing sideand an outboard facing side, and the first and second halves furtherincluding an arrangement of pegs on the inboard facing side of the baseportions and a correspondingly aligned arrangement of receptacles on theinboard facing side of the base portions, wherein the arrangement ofpegs are received within the correspondingly aligned arrangement ofreceptacles when the first and second base portions are joined together.6. The device as recited in claim 5 wherein the first and second endportions of the fabric sheet include an arrangement of holes for passageof the arrangement of pegs therethrough when the first and second baseportions are joined together to thereby secure the first and second endportions to the main body.
 7. The device as recited in claim 6 whereinthe opposing first and second panels each include a longitudinal slotfor passage of the fabric sheet therethrough and over the top distaledge and through the open mouth to assume the V-shape between theopposing first and second panels.